By Debbie Mitchell
This morning I am taking a break from the usual summer series How Did You Get Into Television? to remember a friend and fellow television comrade, Ted Holtzclaw. As you heard in the clip above, Ted Holtzclaw, the Operations Manager for WABC-TV in New York City, died suddenly of on Monday morning. He was only 53 years old. Ted collapsed on Columbus Avenue, only steps from the station as he was heading to work. A few co-workers ran out to try and help save him, but Ted eventually died of a heart attack.
A friend at the station says that before the news of his death was public, co-workers were asked by management to gather for an impromptu morning meeting. She said the room was quiet except for a few people who were sobbing. Management then broke the news that Ted had passed away. His death hit friends and co-workers very hard.
A friend at the station says that before the news of his death was public, co-workers were asked by management to gather for an impromptu morning meeting. She said the room was quiet except for a few people who were sobbing. Management then broke the news that Ted had passed away. His death hit friends and co-workers very hard.
I had not spoken to Ted in many years, but received a holiday card from him and his wife Verna and more recently his two year old son Harrison was added to the family Christmas wishes. I first met Ted Holtzclaw when a mutual friend put us in touch in 1999, the year he arrived to start his new job at WABC-TV. I was the established New Yorker and fellow television contact who welcomed him to town. He settled in nicely. A few months later, I got my job producing for CBS News "The Early Show" and life just got very busy for both of us.
As Operations Manager, Ted was in charge of all the technical things that allow reporters and anchors to go "live" from a location. He made sure the live feed and video got on the air, that is no easy task. If there was a news event, big or small a reporter(s) or an anchor(s) is dispatched to report the story with or without guests on site. Think back to one of the biggest stories ever in New York, the 24/7 day to day coverage of 9/11 as an example.
The Operations Manager has to work closely with the technical (cameramen/audio/satellite trucks) and editorial staff (Senior staff/producers) to coordinate coverage which is happening "live." Just remember in television, you NEVER miss a deadline or go to black on air. You MUST have video and audio, preferably at the same time.
I've said this before, working in news and live television is not for the faint of heart. When news breaks you have to be ready to jump into action. Like several jobs in news, the Operation Manager's role is a high stress position that requires a person to be fast both in mind and body, organized, detail oriented, patient, flexible, diplomatic and able to predict any and all that could go wrong during the "live" shot. It sounds like Ted Holtzclaw was great at his job and much more. Even with his busy schedule, he found time to mentor kids interested in television and eventually have a family of his own.
His friend and WABC-TV anchor Bill Ritter wrote a beautiful tribute to Ted. Please take the time to click here and read it.
As Operations Manager, Ted was in charge of all the technical things that allow reporters and anchors to go "live" from a location. He made sure the live feed and video got on the air, that is no easy task. If there was a news event, big or small a reporter(s) or an anchor(s) is dispatched to report the story with or without guests on site. Think back to one of the biggest stories ever in New York, the 24/7 day to day coverage of 9/11 as an example.
The Operations Manager has to work closely with the technical (cameramen/audio/satellite trucks) and editorial staff (Senior staff/producers) to coordinate coverage which is happening "live." Just remember in television, you NEVER miss a deadline or go to black on air. You MUST have video and audio, preferably at the same time.
I've said this before, working in news and live television is not for the faint of heart. When news breaks you have to be ready to jump into action. Like several jobs in news, the Operation Manager's role is a high stress position that requires a person to be fast both in mind and body, organized, detail oriented, patient, flexible, diplomatic and able to predict any and all that could go wrong during the "live" shot. It sounds like Ted Holtzclaw was great at his job and much more. Even with his busy schedule, he found time to mentor kids interested in television and eventually have a family of his own.
His friend and WABC-TV anchor Bill Ritter wrote a beautiful tribute to Ted. Please take the time to click here and read it.
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| Ted Holtzclaw- Photo courtesy WABC-TV |
Ted Holtzclaw you left us too soon. R.I.P.
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TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and is currently a member of the James Beard Broadcast and New Media Awards Committee. If you are a brand interested in blogger outreach campaigns, a blogger or personality interested in television placement follow Debbie Mitchell @TVProducerDeb or contact TheBloggerConnection.com.
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So sorry about your friend Deb. He seemed like a smart, lovely, talented guy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lora. Yeah, pretty sad news. He was well liked, a good guy.
ReplyDelete